By Karen Talbot

JORDAN HALL 10803
142 Fifth Avenue, Pelham, NY 914-222-5494

Feb. 1, 2017:  JORDAN HALL 10803 occupies the same location in Pelham as the former Bistro Rollin, combining southern Italian specialties and traditional chop house fare.

The decor has not changed much since the bistro days, which is good news, since it was an attractive setting to start with--white walls with dark wood details and atmospheric lighting.

The new owners have expanded the bar area as a mingling spot for casual dining, which is a nice touch. The restaurant gets its name from the award-winning Jordan Chardonnay and Cabernet from the Sonoma Valley, which occupies prominent mention on the wine list. While the food is generally excellent, the menu prices are high-end and the service, while OK, was sometimes spotty.

When my husband and I and a good friend/foodie were led to our table, delicious, warm bread was served, along with a small plate of antipasto comprising salami, peppers, and two Italian cheeses. We ordered the following appetizers: grilled calamari on a bed of baby greens, cherry tomatoes, and shaved carrots, all in a balsamic glaze; grilled diver sea scallops with baby portabello and roasted red peppers in a lemon vinaigrette drizzle; and classic frisée salad with bacon lardon, garlic aioli, and a poached egg. The first two appetizers were very good, but the salad was cold (as if it had just come out of the refrigerator). The flavor was fine, but I prefer my salads at room temperature.

Our entrées included a prime bone-in rib-eye steak, which was outstanding, but for $48 we were expecting something else on the plate. We were offered a green peppercorn or similar sauce, which we declined.

Another special that night was dover sole meunière, which our friend said was first-class--carefully filleted tableside and served with garlic, lemon sauce, herbs, and a touch of Pernod, served with sautéed spinach on the side.

I ordered a pasta special, capellini with large shrimp, cherry tomatoes, and asparagus tips dressed in fresh basil oil, which was disappointing because of the overabundance of pasta on the plate, which made for a bland and flavorless combination. Plenty of side dishes on the menu--we ordered the sautéed spinach--and portions were generous enough to have some to take home.

The chef, Eric Mauro, is the same chef who held forth at Bistro Rollin, and one of the owners, Florio Rugova, was the general manager of La Fontanella, a well-known Pelham restaurant just a few blocks away. 

Pictured here:  The interior of JORDAN HALL 10803.

Photo by Karen Talbot